Morocco and Mauritania boost military ties  (Read more...)

The launch of a space capsule carrying Moroccan scientific experiments is delayed

The UK Space Agency, an executive agency of the Government of the United Kingdom, responsible for the United Kingdom's civil space programme, announced on Wednesday that it is postponing the launch of a space capsule that contains scientific experiments from Morocco, India and Mexico. The agency explained that rescheduling of this launch is due to logistical conditions invoked by the Mexican air force, reported Anadolu. Mohamed Kayyali, director of the British Space Agency, told the same

«QS World University Ranking 2018» : Mohammed V University tops the national list

Mohammed V University in Rabat topped on Thursday the list including Moroccan universities ranked by the «QS World University Ranking 2018», an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). In Africa, the University of Rabat was ranked 45th, while internationally, it was positioned 801st out of the 1,000 universities studied worldwide, said a statement issued by the university. Mohammed V. Continentally, the Cadi Ayyad University was 55th,

Brussels : 3,000 Moroccans demand the release of political detainees

Around 3,000 Moroccan nationals from the Rif region took the streets in Brussels on Wednesday to demand the release of political prisoners in their country, reports Dutch-language Belgian platform VRT NWS. The protesters came from different European countries. Ahmed Zefzafi, the father of the figurehead of the Hirak protest movement, Nasser Zefzafi, also took part in the rally. The aim of the event was to draw the attention of the European Parliament to Moroccan political prisoners, says VRT

USA : The Quebec City mosque shooting in the heart of a Bill

The Quebec City mosque shooting which occurred on the 29th of January 2017, is one of the six crimes cited in the 4918 Bill in «preventing interior terrorism». The bill has been submitted this month to the United States House of Representatives, reports the Canadian newspaper La presse. The bill states that it is the first shooting committed in a North American mosque, recalling that the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has referred to it as «a terrorist

A Moroccan national expelled from Spain over terror links

The Spanish police have expelled a Moroccan national to his country of origin, because of his alleged activities linked to ISIS, EFE reported Wednesday. The 43-year-old man was arrested on January the 30th in Terrasa (Barcelona) and released later. Police sources told the Spanish news agency that the suspect was arrested again on Monday, and was transferred to Madrid and sent back to Melilla by plane. The Moroccan national had all his papers in Spain, but his deportation was decided for

Melilla : Unicef denounces the living conditions of minor migrants

The situation of minor migrants in Melilla is worrying according to the United Nations. The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which monitors and reports on implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child by governments that ratify the Convention, urged Spain to reform the protocol on unaccompanied foreign minors, said the Spanish radio Cadena Ser. The UN committee also called the Iberian country to adopt the necessary measure which

New York wants to pay women forced to remove their hijab

The city of New York has agreed to compensate three women who were forced by police officers to remove their veil when taking their ID photos. Thus, each of these women will be granted 60 000 dollars, indicated officials, this Wednesday, quoted by the daily newspaper Le Monde. An agreement was reached earlier this week in a federal court in Brooklyn, where three arrests took place, said the three women’s lawyer, Tahanie Aboushi. According to the latter : «It’s a

Morocco 2026 World Cup bid : A FIFA delegation visits the Kingdom

In a meeting chaired by Moulay Hafid Elalamy, president of the Morocco 2026 World Cup Bid Committee, and held in Rabat Wednesday was attended by a FIFA delegation to discuss the Kingdom’s candidacy, said a communiqué sent to Yabiladi by the same committee. The two bodies explored in details the aspects related to government guarantees and other legal procedures linked to the Moroccan bid. The FIFA delegation was also received by Prime Minister, Saadeddine El Othmani with the

Fisheries agreement : The UN refuses to comment on the CJEU’s ruling

The Court of Justice of the European Union’s (CJEU) ruling on the fisheries agreement concluded between Morocco and the European Union was in the heart of the daily press briefing held by the UN and hosted by Stephan Dujarric, the Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The latter refused to answer a question on the topic. «No, no particular comment on» on the CJEU’s decision, he said. Another journalist insisted on asking the same

Tangier-Tarifa : Maritime traffic suspended due to bad weather

Navigation has been suspended at the Tangier city and Tarifa port due to bad weather, reports Wednesday the Tangier city port authorities. The ferries linking Tangier and the Spanish port of Tarifa were forced to temporarily stop their activities, starting from Wednesday morning because of the bad weather, Mohamed Maghazi the commandant of the Tangier city port told MAP news agency. The same source noted that navigation will be resumed as soon as the weather gets better.

Casablanca : Two Chinese tourists crashed by a lighting pole

Two Chinese nationals were crashed, Wednesday 28th of February, by a lighting pole in Boulevard de la Corniche in Casablanca, reports the Economist. The windy weather made the lighting pole fall and crash the two tourists, a man and a woman. Severely injured, the two Chinese nationals were transported immediately to the emergency room. For the record, weather forecasts show that strong wind and heavy thunderstorms are expected Wednesday and Thursday in several provinces.

USA : Immigrants can face indefinite detention

On Tuesday, the US Supreme Court issued a ruling requiring that immigrants and asylum seekers to be held by immigration officials indefinitely without appearing in bond hearings. The government, thus, can keep them in prison for an unlimited amount of time, said Tuesday the Hill. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the decision «will impact the lives of thousands of people, including lawful permanent residents, asylum seekers, and survivors of torture». Indeed,

Netflix is producing its first original series in Arabic

Netflix, an American entertainment company, released on Monday the announcement for «its first Arabic-language series», said France Info. Thus, teh series «Jinn» directed Lebanese Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya will be broadcast next year around teh world and will contain six episodes. It is a «contemporary super (natural drama)», which sheds light on the lives of several teenagers. This will be disrupted by the appearance of a «Jinn» (a supernatural

Mauritanian president meets with a Polisario envoy

On the same day that the Mauritanian ambassador to Morocco presented his credentials in Rabat, President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz received in the presidential palace in Nouakchott a Polisario envoy, namely Abdelkader Taleb Omar. The latter has spent a few days at the Mauritanian capital before meeting the president. In fact, he has already held talks with the Mauritanian Prime Minister, Yahya Ould Hademine, and two political party leaders : Sidi Mohamed Ould Maham from the Union for

The new Mauritanian ambassador to Morocco presents his credentials

After six years of waiting, a new Mauritanian ambassador has taken up residence in Rabat. On Tuesday, February 27, Mohamed Lemine Ould Aboye presented his credentials to the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Ali Lazrak. The diplomat was appointed last December. He had previously held similar positions in Niger and Senegal. In an interview conducted by the French-Language weekly Jeune Afrique, President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz stated that diplomatic relations

Melilla : The inhuman conditions of reception facilities for minor migrants

A Spanish TV channel showed images of the La Purísima minors' reception facilities, in Melilla, showcasing the inhuman conditions in which minor migrants who have been trying to reach Spain live. The center which hosts 170 people receives each year 5 million Euros to actually be home for 500 minor migrants. The images show children sleeping on the ground, forced to share mattresses, without cover and with no access to hot water. «I sleep in a room with 7 or 8 other people»,

Fisheries agreement : The Polisario rejoices over the CJEU's ruling

Unsurprisingly, the Polisario Front has openly welcomed the decision taken, Tuesday, by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) regarding the fisheries agreement concluded between Morocco and the European Union. The ruling delivered today comes as the separatist front is commemorating the 42nd anniversary of the «SADR»’s creation. M’Hamed Khadad, the Polisario coordinator with MINURSO, asked «all vessels fishing in the territorial waters of Western

Finland : Moroccan national is to face trial after the Turku knife attack

Abderrahman Bouanane, a Moroccan national who is accused of killing two people and injuring 8 others during a stabbing attack on the 18th of August in Turku is to face prosecution, reports Finnish online newspaper YLE. The suspect will be tried on «two counts of murder with terrorist intent and eight counts of attempted murder with terrorist intent». According to the same source, the preliminary hearings are to be held during spring and case will be heard by three